🎄 Your Guide to Visiting Bruges Christmas Market (2025)
There are few places in Europe more magical at Christmas than Bruges. Picture fairy-lit cobbled streets, the warm glow of Christmas huts within traditional medieval squares, and the smell of waffles and mulled wine filling the air! There is so much to love about the Bruges Christmas Markets you can see why it’s popular! To help you make the most of your time, here’s our complete guide to visiting the Bruges Christmas Markets this festive season.
❄️ What is the “Winter Glow” in Bruges?
If you’ve started any research on how to visit Bruges Christmas Market, you will likely have seen “Winter Glow” mentioned. Bruges doesn’t hold back when it comes to festivities and the city essentially becomes a winter wonderland from late November to early January. Winter Glow is the collective name for all the festive experiences in the city. Just some highlights include:
- Two main Christmas Markets
- A light experience trail through the heart of the city
- A floating ice rink on Minnewater (the Lake of Love)
- A cosy winter bar overlooking the ice rink
- Shopping streets draped in decorations
- Christmas trees and twinkling fairy lights galore!
Does this sound completely up your street? Then read on to start planning your visit to Bruges Christmas Market!
📍 Where is Bruges Christmas Market?
Well did you know Bruges actually has two Christmas Markets: one in Grote Markt (Market Square) and one in Simon Stevinplein.
You’ll find the biggest Christmas Market at Grote Markt, with the Belfry Tower at the centrepiece overlooking the whole square. Here you’ll find lots of wooden chalets selling gifts, sweets, ornaments and lots of Belgium treats! A few stalls here also sell food, plus mulled wine.
While you’re here, be sure to climb the 366 steps to the top of the Belfry for views overlooking the rooftops of Bruges and the Christmas Market below you.
The Market at Simon Stevinplein is home to a smaller but equally fun Christmas Market. It’s only a short 5-10 minute walk from Grote Markt (but don’t be surprised if you’re delayed by chocolatiers, shops and cosy cafes along the way).
📅 Bruges Christmas Market 2025 Dates & Opening Times
The market and Winter Glow experience will be running this year from Friday 21 November 2025 to Thursday 4 January 2026:
- Sunday to Thursday: 10am – 10pm
- Friday & Saturday: 10:30am – 11pm
- Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve: 10am – 5pm
- Christmas Day & New Year’s Day: limited hours
✨ Highlights of Bruges Winter Glow and Things to Do:
The Light Trail Experience
Every year, Bruges unveils a new light trail that winds through its historic city centre. You can expect glowing art installations, illuminated buildings and atmospheric lighting effects. The experience is free to explore and best enjoyed after dark.
Ice Skating in Bruges
What Christmas Market is complete without an ice risk? And Bruges is no exception. Each year they install a floating, sustainable rink at Minnewater park. Even if you’re not interested in skating, there’s something for everyone here. From festive decorations and twinkling lights, to music and the winter bar, where you can grab a hot drink (or something stronger) to warm you up, overlooking the ice rink.
Ice rink prices:
- Adults & children: €8
- Groups (10+): €7.50
- Children under 3: Free
✅ Other Things to do in Bruges at Christmas
Climb the Belfry Tower
We’ve mentioned this already, but for one of the best views of Bruges, make sure you squeeze in a trip to the top of the tower. Whether you’re in Bruges for 1 day or longer, secure your tickets first thing in the morning. The tower is very popular and it gets booked up quickly. You can purchase your tickets from a kiosk just inside the entrance, where you’ll be able to see ticket availability for the day and pick the time you’d like to visit.
Ticket prices:
- 18 – 65+: €15
- 7 – 17: €13
- Under 7: Free
Opening hours:
Monday – Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 8pm
Sunday: 10am – 6pm
Take a boat ride through the city’s canals
A boat ride may not seem like an obvious choice in the winter, but its worth it to experience Bruges’ famous canals first-hand. Seeing the city from the water offers a unique perspective, and it looks even more pretty with all the festive decorations in place.
You will also see horse drawn carriages being advertised in the city centre. We personally don’t condone animal tourism, so please don’t book a horse drawn carriage.
Explore the city’s many cafes and bars
Bruges is filled with cosy little spots to warm up with a hot chocolate, mulled wine or a local beer. There’s nothing like coming in from the cold, fresh faced and rosy cheeked, and taking a seat in a cosy corner to watch the world go by. There are too many to list – and to be honest, Bruges is best explored on foot, so see what little hidden gems you come across.
Shop beyond the markets
While visiting Bruges Christmas Market is the star attraction for so many at this time of year, take a wander also up and down shopping street and side streets. There are many well-known high street stores in Bruges, plus some smaller brands and independent stores, where you can pick up some unique gifts and souvenirs.
A particular favourite is Käthe Wohlfahrt, a two-floor Christmas decoration haven! Be warned this place gets very busy though! So either come very early in the day, or be patient as you slowly shuffle your way around the store.
Enjoy the local delicacies
Belgium knows how to do good food and drink – even more so at Christmas time. Some must-try treats are:
- Belgium Waffles: either from the markets, or there are lots of lovely cafes who pride themselves on serving a variety of delicious waffles.
- Frites: some market stalls also specialise in “dirty frites”. We found one who supplied vegetarian “beef” and loaded on the cheese for us! Delicious!
- Cheese kroketten: speaking of cheese, these little crispy cheese croquettes are so moreish!
- Belgium chocolate: you will be quite literally spoilt for choice! From the chocolatiers which line the streets of bruges, to market stalls. You can’t go too far wrong
- Mulled wine or hot chocolate: it would be a crime at such a festive setting to not indulge in a couple of mugs. If you like mulled wine, be sure to scout out the best mugs at the various stalls. Most will require a small deposit, which you get back when you return the mug, or you can keep your mugs as souvenirs. We came back with a pair of mugs shaped like boots – cute!
- Belgian beer: And of course, if beer is more up your street, then you have come to the right place. From market stalls, to bars and pubs, Belgium beer will be quite literally everywhere you look!
⭐ Our Top Tips for Visiting Bruges Christmas Market
- Stay at least one night – Bruges is as pretty as a fairy-tale, and the city appears even more magical at night, when all the lights are on and twinkling away. Also, Bruges is a very popular destination for day trippers, and the evening vibe is very different once day-trippers have all headed back
- Try to avoid weekends – we visited Friday – Sunday and we noticed how much busier the streets, the shops and the markets were on the Saturday compared to the Friday. If you came mid-week the markets will likely be even quieter still
- Dress warmly – bring lots of layers! Our good ole European weather is unpredictable at best. You may have a wet and rainy trip, or it might be sunny, but crisp and fresh. Either way, its going to be cold and layers will be your friend!
- Wear sensible shoes – there are a lot of cobblestones in Bruges. You’ll also likely do a lot of walking! So make sure to wear something practical and comfortable
- Parking – driving through the city centre at this time of year is near-on impossible (and stressful). If you’ve driven, we suggest using one of the underground parking garages on the outskirts of Bruges centre. Bruges is a very small city, so even when parking on the outskirts, you’re still no more than a 15-20 minute walk away.
🧳 Is Visiting Bruges Christmas Market Worth It?
In terms of size, Bruges is a pretty small city, and therefore the Christmas Markets are pretty small too! Especially if you’ve been to the likes of Winter Wonderland in London, or one of the major Christmas Markets in cities like Berlin or Freiburg. But where Bruges lacks in market stalls, it makes up for in atmosphere with a punch!
Crowds and large tourist groups are to be expected, and you could argue is Bruges a little over-hyped? But we think Bruges draws in the crowds for good reason. Bruges is easily one of Europe’s prettiest city destinations, and when it comes to Christmas with its cobblestone streets, canals, and centuries-old houses all dressed in lights, the Christmas Market is just the cherry on top!
We’ve been to Bruges twice now (and visited many other Christmas Markets), and we would absolutely say that Bruges is well worth a trip at this time of year! There is so much to love about this city, and you’ll come away with some cosy festive memories that will last for life!
👋 Get in touch!
A trip to a Christmas Market is always a fun experience, but we hope our post about visiting Bruges Christmas Market has whet your appetite! But if you have any questions, please drop something in the comments below – we’d love to hear from you!
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For more Christmas Market inspiration check out our other guides below:
